The Loons employ and embrace the most-diverse roster among Minnesota’s professional sports teams.
For instance, at Wednesday’s practice in Blaine, the majority of the 25 players on the field were legal immigrants to the U.S. As that training session started at the National Sports Center in Blaine, the players jogged together as a collective group, but they really represented a melting pot.
The eclectic team includes a talented trio from Argentina and a trio of tough defenders composed of players from Panama, Germany and Colombia. Also in the mix: the club’s grizzled captain from New Zealand; a promising young attacker hailing from Sierra Leone; a gregarious glue guy from South Africa; and a rising star midfielder born in Australia and representing his heritage on the Greece national team.
And the list goes on.
But the federal government’s current immigration enforcement crackdown in Minnesota has hurt MNUFC’s ability this winter to add more international players to its roster, and had a chilling effect on returning players who are wondering if they can live safely in the U.S.
Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall (15) gives fans the thumbs up after the loon beat the Seattle Sounders at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. The Loons beat Seattle 3-3 (7-6) in a shootout to advance the semi-final round. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
‘People are scared’
Gifted playmaker Joaquin Pereyra moved to Minnesota from Argentina in the summer of 2024 in order to create a better life for him and his wife. Seventeen months later, he described the “tension” and “fear” he sees in his adopted home.
“People are scared. We are, too,” the 25-year-old midfielder told the Pioneer Press on Wednesday, which was translated from Spanish via club employees. “Fewer and fewer people want to be out on the streets because of what might happen to them.”
In order to move from South America, Pereyra followed the well-established customs protocol for foreign players coming to MLS. He initially receiving a P-1A Athlete visa and an International Transfer Certificate (ITC) in order to practice and play in matches. Similar to many players, he has since earned a Green Card, making him a permanent U.S. resident.
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Given the current political conditions, Pereyra said he carries his Argentine passport and U.S. green card on his person when in public.
“Whether I’m walking around the neighborhood, at the supermarket, anywhere,” Pereyra said. “… Obviously, that doesn’t guarantee me anything because we’ve seen on the news that people who have had their Green Card and passport in their car, or whatever, are still taken away or treated badly.”
Minnesota United leadership has held meetings with players on how to navigate potential interaction with immigration enforcement actions, but those safeguards can only go so far. The fear Pereyra described undercuts a primary reason foreign players came to the U.S. in the first place.
“In South America, I can tell you from experience, life is sometimes very difficult. There is a lot of poverty,” Pereyra said. “And for those of us from Latin America, coming here is a huge step up in terms of quality of life. So, the fact that they want to do what they’re doing, and in the way they’re doing it, is something I obviously don’t agree with at all.”
Pereyra enjoyed a strong season for the Loons in 2025, finishing second on team with 14 goal contributions (six goals and eight assists) in 33 regular-season games. He was a primary reason MNUFC advanced to the Western Conference semifinals for a second straight season. He wants to get back to focusing on his job.
“All I hope is that, as I said, this will finally end,” Pereyra said. “The mistreatment of people cannot exist anywhere in the world. I understand that it’s a position of authority that they take advantage of, but I think it’s a lack of respect for all people. Even the people of Minnesota, who were born here and are also having a hard time because I see that many people who are from here are protesting for the same reasons. Let’s hope this calms down for the good of everyone.”
Michael Boxall is the Loons’ longest-tenured player, joining the club in 2017, and he’s since becoming the club’s captain. The New Zealand native has not felt the need to carry his immigration paperwork in pubic, but his young children have asked questions on the topic.
“It’s just a failure of leadership at so many levels,” Boxall said. “Obviously federally, we’ve got a bunch of people here who aren’t capable of doing what they are meant to do. … They have been sent to what is now a high-stress environment and (are) not capable of doing their job properly.
“No one should be dead for just expressing their thoughts or peaceful protesting,” he continued. “There are instances with (Minneapolis mayor Jacob Frey) as well, (who) seems to incite violence. … There is a lot of edginess all around, I think it leads to people ending up in circumstances (where) a lot of people are getting injured, which is awful to see.
“Being an immigrant myself, and coming from a country where there are a lot of immigrants, I know they bring a lot of value to a country. So, I just hope that things can be resolved in a way that there are no more lives lost, no more families hurt and separated needlessly.”
Foreign players saying no
The MLS primary transfer window officially opened last week, setting up a key period for clubs to improve their roster through March 26. The MLS season starts Feb. 21.
But the current immigration enforcement actions — which has led directly to the shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents, Renee Good and Alex Pretti — has hurt MNUFC’s ability to bring in new players, sources told the Pioneer Press this week.
The Loons were negotiating transfer deals with Slovenian midfielder Tomi Horvat and Dutch defender Cherrion Valerius, but both players cited concerns about life in Minnesota for them and their families as why they declined contracts with MNUFC.
Horvat has since signed with English club Bristol City, and Valerius will remain with Netherland club NAC Breda.
The Loons also have been linked to Killian Phillips, a midfielder with Scotland club St. Mirren. The San Diego-born player of Irish descent is also mentioned as a target of San Diego FC and Portland Timbers. It’s unclear what the current environment in Minnesota does to his desire to possibly join the Loons.
MNUFC wanted to add approximately three or four new players this winter, but has completed only one new signing so far. The addition of Colombian attacking midfielder Mauricio Gonzalez was done weeks ago — before recent flashpoints with the immigration raids in Minnesota. Gonzalez, 21, still needs to receive his work visa before being eligible to play for the Loons, and it’s unclear how long that process might take now.
The current landscape in Minnesota has the Loons’ front office considering whether it makes more sense to table the remaining items on their wish list for new players. Perhaps the club will wait until the summer transfer window in hopes that the situation improves.
Seattle Sounders defender Travian Sousa (3) traps the ball between his knees against Minnesota United midfielder Joaquín Pereyra (26) in the first half of a MLS first round playoff match at Allianz Field in St. Paul on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
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